Keys To Victory For The Notre Dame Defense vs. NC State

Notre Dame (2-0) will look to earn its biggest win of the season this weekend when it takes on the NC State Wolfpack (1-0). The 10th-ranked Fighting Irish face a tough test heading to Raleigh as they look to earn their 29th straight regular season win over the ACC.

It will certainly be the biggest test for the Irish defense, but it's also one that unit should control, assuming they clean football and play to their potential in this matchup. In order to do that, the Notre Dame defense needs to thrive in three key areas. Do that and NC State will have a tough time scoring enough points to win.

1. Shut Down The Ground Game - It has been awhile since NC State was a good rushing team, with the Wolfpack averaging at least 150 yards per game on the ground in a season just once beginning in 2017. NC State went for 209 in the season opening win over UConn, with the backs combining for 115 yards and quarterback Brennan Armstrong adding 96 yards of his own. NC State will look to have similar balance against Notre Dame, but the Irish must ensure they cannot achieve that goal.

Notre Dame needs to dominate this particular matchup and make NC State a one dimensional team. Considering how good Armstrong was throwing the ball the last time he and OC Robert Anae paired up (4,449 yards, 31 TD in 2021), that might not make sense, but it is what needs to be done.

Shutting down the NC State ground game prevents the offense from achieving the balance it needs to hurt Notre Dame. A game plan that dominates the line of scrimmage to this degree will also likely result in pass game pressures, but the primary key is consistently putting NC State behind schedule on offense.

I also don't believe NC State has the weapons in the pass game that Anae and Armstrong had at Virginia in 2021, and if I'm going to pick a unit that I force to try and beat me, it's that group of players.

2. Keep Armstrong In The Pocket, And Uncomfortable - If Notre Dame shuts down the run game it then puts more and more pressure on Armstrong to carry the day. If Armstrong is able to run around and make plays with his legs, and make plays out of the pocket the Irish will have a tougher time keeping NC State off the scoreboard.

Notre Dame needs to contain Armstrong and keep him in the pocket. If he is stuck in the pocket, getting him on his heels and speeding up his progressions with good pressure then enhances the chances that Notre Dame can force incompletions, short gains and possibly even turnovers.

3. Get The Ball - In the podcast attached to this article I discuss early down success as the third key, and it's vitally important. For the purpose of this article, however, I included that analysis in point one. Shut down the run game and get pressure on the quarterback, and the Irish will have early down success.

If the Irish are controlling the line of scrimmage and getting consistent disruptives against the NC State offense, the end result will be opportunities to force turnover. NC State's offense hasn't shown itself to be a big play group in recent seasons, so limiting possessions by forcing turnovers will make it harder for the offense to put the points on the board it needs to beat Notre Dame.

On the flip side, if Notre Dame is able to be disruptive up front and force turnover, the Irish will not only win, they will have a chance to beat NC State convincingly.

Be sure to check out the Irish Breakdown message board, the Champions Lounge

Irish Breakdown Content

2023 Scholarship Chart
2023 Football Schedule

Notre Dame 2024 Scholarship Offers

2024 Commit Rankings - Offense
2024 Commit Rankings - Defense

2023 Recruiting Class Grades - Offense
2023 Recruiting Class Grades - Defense

———————

Become a premium Irish Breakdown member, which grants you access to all of our premium content and our premium message board! Click on the link below for more.

BECOME A MEMBER

Be sure to stay locked into Irish Breakdown all the time!

Join the Irish Breakdown community!
Subscribe to the Irish Breakdown YouTube channel
Subscribe to the Irish Breakdown podcast on iTunes
Follow me on Twitter: @CoachD178
Like and follow Irish Breakdown on Facebook

Sign up for the FREE Irish Breakdown daily newsletter